The potential of recycling wool residues as an amendment for enhancing the physical and hydraulic properties of a sandy loam soil

Climate change and global food demand in coming decades urge effective actions for more efficient uses of water and soil resources. This paper reports the preliminary findings of a study assessing the potential of sheep scoured wool residues (SWRs) as soil amendments to enhance the physical and hydraulic properties of a sandy loam soil under rain conditions. Methods: Two different SWRs were used: scoured residues (white wool, WW) and carbonized scoured residues (black wool, BW) at different SWRs/soil ratios (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%). Soil bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP), aggregates stability, aggregate size distribution, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and water retention properties were determined under rain conditions, in addition to rainwater balance (storage, percolation and runoff). Results: Both WW and BW, particularly at the high wool/soil ratio (2%), significantly reduced soil BD by 11.98% and 9.85%, respectively. Moreover, WW and BW increased TP by 16.45% and 13.57% and available water capacity by 6.5% and 18.1%, respectively. SWRs increased the formation of macro-aggregates and increased aggregate stability. The results of rainwater balance showed higher percolation percentages and less rainwater storage in the wool-treated soil. Conclusions: The increase in water percolation is in line with the increased total porosity and the higher saturated hydraulic conductivity of wool-treated soil. Despite the high capacity of absorbing water, SWRs affected the water movement of the soil more than its water retention

Building green infrastructure to enhance urban resilience to climate change and pandemics

The looming climate crisis and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance of green infrastructure in and around cities, prompting an urgent call for more functional and sustainable urban planning and design. A number of recent studies have shown that green infrastructure offers a wide range of ecosystem functions and services essential to human wellbeing and urban sustainability (O’Brien et al. 2017; Staddon et al. 2018) which are of particular relevance under climatic and health crises. In this editorial we stress the importance of the existing green infrastructure to withstand climate change-induced stresses, namely those related to increasing climate variability and extreme temperature and precipitation events, and to contribute to human physical and mental health of urban dwellers during lockdown periods. In both cases, green infrastructure plays a major role in providing urban areas with resilience capacity that is key to urban sustainability. We also highlight the need to expand and improve green infrastructure, in particular in regions that are more vulnerable, based on integrative and participatory processes. This editorial was motivated by a webinar organized by the IUFRO (International Union of Forest Research Organizations) Landscape Ecology Working Party (https://iufrole-wp.weebly.com/) held on November 17th, 2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Older tourists' travel motivations and overall satisfaction at the destination: The case of Sirmione

Purpose: As the number of older tourists is progressively growing due to population ageing, tourism destinations are increasingly striving to attract them. For this purpose, destination marketers need to gain deep knowledge about the relationships between older tourists\u2019 travel motivations and satisfaction at the destination. This paper aims to provide an in-depth examination of such relationships in a specific destination, highlighting the effects of four travel motivations (culture; pleasure-seeking; relaxation; physical). Methodology: A cross-section design was adopted based on a survey among a sample of older tourists visiting Sirmione, a mature destination located on Lake Garda, Italy. Data were analyzed through multiple techniques, including analyses of variance and linear regression. Findings: The results reveal that relaxation was the most important motivation making older tourists decide to visit Sirmione. Moreover, relaxation was the only motivation showing a statistically significant relationship with satisfaction at the destination. Practical implications: The results of this study provide destination managers with valuable inputs to reposition their destination to effectively attract older tourists. Originality/value: This paper contributes to enhance available knowledge \u2013 which is quite scarce \u2013 about the effects of travel motivations on satisfaction at the destination among older tourists

Mo.N.G.U.E. Mozambique.Nature.Growth.University.Education

The research project Mo.N.G.U.E. (MOzambique, Nature, Growth, University, Education) takes its name from a location in Mozambique located at the end of the peninsula of the same name in the bay of Inhambane, of which it is the historic stronghold, 20 km from the outskirts of the city of Maxixe. The rural context is still rich in traditional ways of life, of environmental and landscape values that require to be protected from an uncontrolled and unplanned urban growth, which radiates from the city towards Mongue. The fragile peninsular site condenses many of the critical issues and potential that affect the rural areas of Mozambique, a country with strong economic and demographic growth, where rapid development phenomena are threatening the most precious environmental resources. A broad territorial and local knowledge framework has been defined through a multidisciplinary and transcalar approach, in relation to soil, water, climate, energy,construction techniques and local materials. The design and in-depth levels of the research, starting from a morphological, landscape and environmental reading and a study of the traditional ways of life, are those of the territorial scale of the peninsula, with the creation of an Ecological Park, and that of the definition of a masterplan strategy for the location of Mongue, which configured its settlement model with the project of an eco-lodge, an environmental research center, a nursery school and the recovery of a small historical missionary church from the early 1900s and its parish house.El proyecto de investigación Mo.N.G.U.E. (MOzambique, Nature, Growth, University, Education) lleva el nombre de una localidad de Mozambique situada en la punta más extrema de la península del mismo nombre en la bahía de Inhambane, de la cual es el bastión histórico, a unos 20 km de la periferia norte de Maxixe. El contexto rural todavía se distingue por modos de vida tradicionales, valores medioambientales y paisajísticos que necessitan protección contra un crecimiento urbano no controlado y no planificado, que irradia de la ciudad a Mongue. El frágil lugar de la península de Mongue condensa muchas de las criticidades y potencial que interesan a las zonas rurales de Mozambique, un país en gran crecimiento demográfico y económico, en el que se dan fenómenos de desarrollo rápido que ponen en riesgo algunos de los recursos medioambientales más valiosos. A través de un enfoque multidisciplinar y multiescalar, se ha definido un amplio marco de conocimiento territorial y local en relación con el suelo, el agua, el clima, la energía, las técnicas de construcción y los materiales locales. Los niveles de proyección y de profundización utilizados en la investigación, a partir de una lectura morfológica, paisajística y medioambiental, y de formas de vida tradicionales son los de la escala territorial de la península, que ha llevado a crear un Parque Ecológico, y el de la definición de un plan director estratégico relativo a la localidad de Mongue, que configurado su modelo de asentamiento a través del proyecto de un centro turístico ecológico, un centro de investigación ambiental, una escuela infantil y la recuperación del patrimonio histórico de una pequeña iglesia misionera de principios del siglo XX y su hogar

Soluble Immune checkpoints, gut metabolites and performance status as parameters of response to Nivolumab treatment in NSCLC patients

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been shown to benefit from the introduction of anti-PD1 treatment. However, not all patients experience tumor regression and durable response. The identification of a string of markers that are direct or indirect indicators of the immune system fitness is needed to choose optimal therapeutic schedules in the management of NSCLC patients. We analyzed 34 immuno-related molecules (14 soluble immune checkpoints, 17 cytokines/chemokines, 3 adhesion molecules) released in the serum of 22 NSCLC patients under Nivolumab treatment and the gut metabolomic profile at baseline. These parameters were correlated with performance status (PS) and/or response to treatment. Nivolumab affected the release of soluble immune checkpoints (sICs). Patients with a better clinical outcome and with an optimal PS (PS = 0) showed a decreased level of PD1 and maintained low levels of several sICs at first clinical evaluation. Low levels of PDL1, PDL2, Tim3, CD137 and BTLA4 were also correlated with a long response to treatment. Moreover, responding patients showed a high proportion of eubiosis-associated gut metabolites. In this exploratory study, we propose a combination of immunological and clinical parameters (sICs, PS and gut metabolites) for the identification of patients more suitable for Nivolumab treatment. This string of parameters validated in a network analysis on a larger cohort of patients could help oncologists to improve their decision-making in an NSCLC setting

Rapporto 2007 su consumo e dipendenze da sostanze in Emilia-Romagna.

Report on the state of legal and illegal substances use in the territory of Emilia-Romagna Region.Il report analizza il fenomeno delle dipendenze nel territorio della Regione Emilia-Romagna. La descrizione del fenomeno si sviluppa intorno all\u27analisi degli indicatori individuati dall\u27Osservatorio Europeo delle Dipendenze di Lisbona (OEDT): 1-uso di sostanze nella popolazione generale (questo indicatore va a rilevare i comportamenti nei confronti di alcol e sostanze psicoattive da parte della popolazione generale); 2-prevalenza d\u27uso problematico delle sostanze psicoattive; 3-domanda di trattamento degli utilizzatori di sostanze; 4-mortalit? degli utilizzatori di sostanze; 5-malattie infettive. Altri due importanti indicatori che si stanno sviluppando, e che vengono qui illustrati, sono l\u27analisi delle Schede di Dimissione Ospedaliera (SDO) e gli indicatori relativi alle conseguenza sociali dell\u27uso di droghe (criminalit? droga correlata). Inoltre sono state applicate diverse metodologie standard di stima sia per quantificare la quota parte sconosciuta di utilizzatori di sostanze che non afferiscono ai servizi, sia per identificarne alcune caratteristiche

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction > 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR < 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening